LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. 

©^apGiV- ^mm¥ 



UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 



AMERICAN WHIST 



CONDENSED. 

LEADS AND PLAYS INDICATED BY A 
NEW SYSTEM 

FOR 

READY REFERENCE. 





9 




10 


8 




K 




J 




9 




X 



A 10 




ONE DOT INDICATES USUAL PLAY ON FIRST ROUND. 
TWO DOTS INDICATE USUAL PLAY IN SECOND ROUND. 
DOTS OUTSIDE REPRESENT PLAYS IN PLAIN SUITS. 
DOTS INSIDE REPRESENT PLAYS IN TRUMPS. 



AMERICAN WHIST 



CONDENSED. 



LEADS AND PLAYS INDICATED BY A 
NEW SYSTEM 



READY REFERENCE. 



ONE DOT INDICATES USUAL PLAY ON FIRST ROUND. 
TWO DOTS INDICATE USUAL PLAY IN SECOND ROUND. 
DOTS OUTSIDE REPRESENT PLAYS IN PLAIN SUITS. 
DOTS INSIDE REPRESENT PLAYS IN TRUMPS. 




PRINTED BY THE AMERICAN BANK NOTE CO. NEW YORK. 
46492 



PREFACE. 




RDINARY players rarely devote much time to an 
extended treatise of the g^ame of whist ; the conse- 



quence is that the majority of those who sit at the 
whist table are inferior players who, with little effort, 
could learn the correct principles. 

The object of this book is to show the principal leads, 
and the usual plays as second or third hand, in a plain and 
concise form, which can be as readily understood as 
though instructions were given with the cards actually in 
the hand. 

The arrangement of combinations is so made that leads 
from long and short suits can be easily compared, as the 
leads vary according to the length of the suit. 

The short suit leads being given as a matter of in- 
formation, it must not be inferred that a short suit should 
be led while holding a longer and stronger suit. 

Trump leads often differ from plain suit leads ; a 
glance at these combinations shows the difference. 

No attempt is made to show intricate plays late in a 
hand. Sufficient rules are given from the best authors to 
confirm the leads and plays represented on miniature 
cards. 

The author's aim is to assist moderate players and 
beginners ; he would gladly receive suggestions from 
experts, as he makes no claim as a master of the game. 



4 



AMERICAN WHIST. 



GENERAL DIRECTIONS. 



\ TOTICE the suit led and discarded by each player; 
1^ also the value of cards when played, and the num- 
h ber of each suit, particularly trumps. With a 
strong trump hand, play your own game ; if weak in 
trumps, yield control to partner. Partners' hands must 
be combined for one purpose. Do not deviate from con- 
ventional plays: false cards are more likely to deceive 
partner than opponents. 

When a suit is first led, infer — from your own hand 
and the cards played — the combination from which the 
lead is made. 

When not leading, play the lowest of a head sequence, 
if one of the sequence should be played. If your play 
should be low, or you cannot — when you should — cover a 
high card, play lowest unless you wish to signal for trumps. 

Finessing is one of the strongest points of the game 
and but little understood by ordinary players. Finesse 
more in trumps than in plain suits. Finesse least in part- 
ner's suits and more in opponents than in your own suits. 

After the first few rounds specific rules are of little ac- 
count ; the play must be governed by the position of the 
unplayed cards of a suit. 

An original lead is supposed to be from not less than 
four of a suit. 

An original lead of trumps indicates strength in trumps 
and one or more strong plain suits. 

An original lead of a small card of a plain suit usually 
indicates no strong suit from which high cards are led. 

On the second round lead the master card of your 
partner's suit or a winning card of your own suit. 

Avoid leading a suit which both opponents renounce, 
as the weak one will trump and the strong one will get 
rid of a losing card. When not leading your own, or part- 



AMERICAN WHIST. 



5 



ner's suit, lead up to a weak hand at right in preference to 
leading- through a strong hand at left. 

Always force an adverse strong trump hand unless 
both opponents renounce the suit. Do not force partner 
when he is strong in trumps and you are weak. 

Force partner when he has had an opportunity to lead 
trumps, or to signal for trumps, and has done neither. 

The fourth best play has superseded the penultimate 
play and is governed by the cards above it without regard 
to the cards below it. 

When a high card led cannot be followed by another 
high card the fourth best is led in the second round. 

The fourth best is led in the first round from a suit 
without a combination from which a high card should be 
led first. 

Observation, memory, inference, calculation, judg- 
ment and practice must be combined to master whist, and 
the theory of the game must be well studied. 




6 



AMERICAN WHIST. 



PREFERENCE IN OPENING LEADS. 



ist. Lead trumps from six or more, 
ad. Lead trumps from five and one good plain suit. 
3d. Lead trumps from four and two good plain suits. 
4th. Lead trumps from three and three good plain suits. 
5th. Lead from longest strong plain suit. 
6th. Lead from four good trumps and three indifferent 
plain suits. 

7th. Lead best three-card plain suit, giving preference 
to a sequence, having no four-card suit except four 
small trumps. 

Good players do not make an original lead of a single- 
ton ; but after the best suit has been opened a singleton 
may be led if weak in trumps, or strong in trumps and 
weak in all plain suits. 

Long suits of four or more cards, headed by a card 
higher than nine, should be opened before suits of two or 
three cards ; the high cards of short suits being held as 
re-entry cards to obtain the lead when it is desirable to 
have it. Do not hold re-entry cards if you have nothing 
to make after their play or cannot lead partner's strong 
suit. Do not lead from a short tenace. 

Avoid changing leads from one suit to another. 

A thirteenth card is led for partner to play his highest 
trump, or to place the lead in fourth hand, or to force 
fourth hand if he is strong in trumps. 



AMERICAN WHIST. 



7 



ACE LEADS FROM LONG PLAIN SUITS. 



Ace is led from Ace, Kin^ 


A 


K 


J 


10 


9 X 


and three or more without 
Queen. 


A 


k 


J 


X 


X 




A 


k 


10 


X 


X X 




A 


k 


X 


X 


X 


Ace is led from Ace and four 


A 


Q 


J 


10 


9 8 


or more without King. 


A 


Q 


J 


X 


X 




A 


Q 


10 


9 


X X 




A 


Q 


X 


X 


X 




A 


J 


10 


9 


X X 




A 


J 


X 


X 


X 




A 


10 


9 


8 


X X 




A 


X 


X 


X 


X 


Ace is led from Ace, Queen 


A 


Q 


J 


10 




and Jack, with or without 












lower cards. 


A 
A 


Q 
Q 


J 

J 


X 




Ace is led from Ace and any- 


A 


k 




A 


Q 


one lower card. 


A 


J 




A 


X 



8 



AMERICAN WHIST. 



KING LEADS FROM LONG PLAIN SUITS. 



King is led 
headed by 
or by King 



from any four 
Ace and King 
and Queen. 



A 


K 


Q 


J 


A 


k 


Q 


X 


A 


k 


J 


X 


A 


k 


10 


X 


A 


k 


X 


X 


k 


Q 


J 


ib 


k 


Q 


J 


X 


k 


Q 


10 


X 


k 


Q 


X 


X 



KING LEADS FROM SHORT PLAIN SUITS. 



King is led from three when 
accompanied by either Ace 
or Queen or both. 



King is led from King and _ 
any one lower. k ih - K X 



A 


K 


Q 


A 


k 


J 


A 


k 


10 


A 


k 


X 


k 


Q 


J 


k 


Q 


10 


k 


Q 


X 


k 


Q 




k 


io 





AMERICAN WHIST. 



9 



QUEEN LEADS FROM LONG PLAIN SUITS. 



Queen is led from five or 








10 


9 




more headed by Ace, King 
and Queen, or by King and 


A 


K 


Q 


X 


X 




Queen ; in either case v/ith- 


K 


Q 


10 


9 


8 




out Jack. 


k 


Q 


10 


X 


X 






k 


6 


X 


X 


X 




Queen is led from four or 


Q 


J 


10 


9 


8 


X 


more headed by Queen, 
Jack and Ten. 


6 


J 


10 


9 


X 






Q 


J 


10 


X 


X 






Q 


J 


10 


9' 








Q 


J 


10 


X 







QUEEN LEADS FROM SHORT PLAIN SUITS. 



Queen is led from Queen, Q J 10 

Jack and one lower, and j x 
from Queen and any one ^ 

lower. Q J 

Q 10 

Q X 



AMERICAN WHIST. 



JACK LEADS FROM LONG SUITS. 



Jack is led from five or more 
headed by the quart se- 
quence Ace, King, Queen, 
Jack or the tierce sequence 
King-, Queen, Jack. 



A 


K 


Q 


J 


10 


X X 


A 


k 


Q 


j 


10 


X 


A 


K 


Q 


j 


10 




A 


K 


Q 


j 


X 




K 


Q 


J 


10 


9 


X 


K 


Q 


J 


10 


9 




k 


Q 


J 


10 


X 




k 


Q 


J 


X 


X 





JACK LEADS FROM SHORT SUITS. 



Jack is led from any combina- 
tion of two or three cards 
headed by Jack. 



10 9 

ib X 

X X 

ib 



J X 



AMERICAN WHIST. 



It 



TEN LEADS FROM LONG AND SHORT 
SUITS. 



Ten is led from any combina- 


K 


J 


10 9 8 


tion headed, by King', Jack 


K 


J 


10 9 X 


and Ten. 




If Ten wins, follow with low. 


K 


J 


10 9 


If Ten forces Ace, follow 


K 




lb X 


with King^. 


J 


If Ten forces Queen, follow 


K 


J 


10 


with Jack. 


10 






If Ace and Queen are both 




9 


8 


forced out, follow with 


lU 


9 


X 


King from four or with 
Jack from five or more. 


1 n 


X 


X 


Ten is led from any two or 


10 


9 




three headed by Ten. 


10 


X 




NINE LEADS FROM 


LON 


G 


AND SH 


SUI 


TS. 






From more than three, nine 


A 


Q 


10 9 


is led only from Ace, Queen, 








Ten, Nine and Ace, Jack, 


A 


J 


10 9 


Ten, Nine. 


9 


8 


7 




9 


8 


X 


Nine is led from any two or 


9 


X 


X 


three headed by Nine. 









12 



AMERICAN WHIST. 



FOURTH BEST LEADS. 



A 


Q 


10 


X 


Ace 
rth. 


A 


Q 


9 


X 


uit, 
fou 


A 


Q 


X 


X 




A 


J 


10 


X 


o *^ 


A 


J 


9 


X 


more 
first, 


A 


J 


X 


X 


n 

CJ — 


A 


10 


9 


8 


hfiv 
1 be 


A 


10 


X 


X 


Wit 
ould 


A 


X 


X 


X 





K J 9 8 7 X 

K J X X X 

K 10 9 8 X X 

K 10 X X X X 

K 10 X X 

K X X X 

The fourth best is 
led from four or more 
without a combina- 
tionfromwhichahigh 
card should be led. 

Second lead de- 
pends upon high 
cards forced out or 
position of high cards 
unpla^'ed which can 
be inferred by plays 
on first round. 



Q 


J 


9 


8 




X 


Q 


J 


9 


X 


X 




Q 


J 


X 


X 


X 




Q 


J 


9 


X 






Q 


J 


X 


X 






Q 


10 


X 


X 






Q 


X 


X 


X 






J 


10 


9 


8 


7 


X 


J 


10 


X 


X 


X 




J 


X 


X 


X 


X 




J 


X 


X 


X 






10 


9 


8 


7 


6 


X 


10 


9 


X 


X 


X 




10 


X 


X 


X 






9 


8 


7 


6 


5 


X 


9 


X 


X 


X 


X 




X 


X 


X 


X 


X 




X 


X 


X 


X 







AMERICAN WHIST. 



^3 



LOW CARD LEADS FROM SHORT SUITS. 



e 5 



05 

<U (11 

ST. 



A 


Q 


10 


Not called Ten Lead. 


A 


Q 


9 


" Nine " 


A 


Q 


X 




A 


J 


lb 


" Ten '* 


A 


J 


9 


" Nine " 


A 


J 


X 




A 


10 


9 


*' Nine " 


A 


10 


X 




A 


X 


X 




K 


J 


9 


" Nine " 


K 


J 


X 




K 


10 


9 


Nine " 


K 


10 


X 




K 


9 


X 




K 


X 


X 




Q 


10 


9 


" Nine " 


Q 


10 


X 




Q 


9 


8 




Q 


X 


X 





14 



AMERICAN WHIST. 



INFERENCES FROM ORIGINAL LEADS. 

Ace led indicates four or mere or Queen and Jack with 

one or more lower. 
Ace, then King, indicates three or more lower than Queen. 
Ace, then Queen, indicates Jack and one low. 
Ace, then Jack, indicates Queen and two or more low. 
Ace, then Ten, indicates Queen and Jack only. 
Ace, then Nine, indicates Queen, Ten, one or more low, 

or Jack, Ten, one or more low. 
Ace, then Low, indicates three others, but not King, or 

both Queen and Jack. 
King indicates three others including Ace or Queen or both. 
King, then Ace, indicates two lower than Queen. 
King, then Queen, indicates Ace and one low or two low. 
King, then Jack, indicates Ace and Queen or Queen and 

one low. 

King, then Ten, indicates Queen and Jack only. 

King, then Low, indicates Queen and one intermediate. 

Queen indicates Ace, King and two low without Jack 

or King and three low without Jack ; or Jack, Ten, 

one or more low. 
Queen, then Ace, indicates King and two lower than Jack. 
Queen, then King, indicates Ace and three or more lower 

than Jack, if Ace is not forced out. 
Queen, then Jack, indicates Ten and one low. 
Queen, then Ten, indicates Jack and two or more low. 
Queen, then Nine, indicates Jack and Ten only. 
Queen, then Low, indicates if Queen wins. King and two 

low. 

Jack indicates Ace, King, Queen and one low, or King, 

Queen and two low. 
Jack, then Ace, indicates King, Queen and one low. 
Jack, then King, indicates Ace, Queen and two low, or 

Queen and two low. 
Jack, then Queen, indicates Ace, King and three low, or 

King and three or more low. 
Ten indicates King, Jack and one or more low. 
Nine indicates Ace, Queen, Ten or Ace, Jack, Ten. 
A Low Card indicates Fourth best of four or more. 
Deuce indicates not more than three others. 



AMERICAN WHIST. 



15 



FORCED LEADS. 



With no long plain suit of four or more cards necessity 
compels a player to lead from short or weak suits, as from 
three cards of each plain suit with four small trumps. 

In leading from short plain suits, begin with the strong- 
est one giving preference to a sequence. 

Lead the highest of any sequence of three cards, or 
from any three with two highest in sequence not headed 
by Ace, as from King, Queen, Jack; Queen, Jack, Ten ; 
Jack, Ten, Nine; King, Queen, X; Queen, Jack, X; 
Jack, Ten, X, &c. 

From Ace, King and Queen and Ace, Queen and Jack 
lead as in four-card suits. 

Lead the highest of any three cards, none higher than 
Jack, as from Jack, Ten, X ; Jack, X, X ; Ten, X, X ; Nine, 
X, X, &c. 

Lead the higher of any two cards in plain suits, and 
the lower in trumps, unless partner has signaled for 
trumps, when the higher trump should be led first. 

Lead the lowest of a three-card suit, with two honors 
not in sequence, or with any single honor higher than Jack, 
unless partner has indicated strength in the suit when the 
highest should be led first as a strengthening card. 

When one card has been discarded from a four-card 
suit, lead from the three remaining cards as you would 
from an original short suit. 



TRUMPS. 



Trumps have a special use in trumping winning cards 
of adversaries, as cards of re-entry to make long suits, and 
to disarm opponents so they cannot trump your winning 
cards. 

Lead from six or more trumps without regard to other 
suits. 



i6 



AMERICAN WHIST. 



Lead from five trumps with one good plain suit and 
establish plain suit after getting out two or three rounds 
of trumps ; with less than five trumps lead a strong plain 
suit first. 

Rarely lead from four trumps unless with two honors 
and two strong plain suits, or your strong suit or partner's 
is established, and you have a re-entry card in a plain suit. 

Lead from three trumps only when strong in all plain 
suits. 

Never lead a single trump, except Ace, without great 
strength in all plain suits. 

Lead trumps from any number to stop a cross rufi. 

When you want trumps led, signal partner by playing, 
unnecessarily, a higher before a lower card of one suit. 

When partner leads trumps, or calls for them, always 
return or lead them at first opportunity, and with four or 
more echo. 

Generally discontinue leading trumps when one op- 
ponent renounces, and continue trumps when partner re- 
nounces and both opponents follow suit. 



TRUMP LEADS. 



Trumps are led from four or more the same as plain 
suits, when headed by three high cards as Ace, King and 
Queen ; Ace, King and Jack ; Ace, Queen and Jack; 
King, Queen and Jack; King, Queen and Ten; King, 
Jack and Ten; or Queen, Jack and Ten. 

With only one or two honors lead fourth best from 
less than seven trumps. With seven or more lead as in 
plain suits. 

With less than four trumps lead lowest unless partner 
has led or signaled for them when the highest should be 
led or returned, and Ace should be returned without re- 
gard to number. 

An honor turned modifies the lead in trumps. 



AMERICAN WHIST. 



17 



If Queen is turned at your right lead trumps as in 
plain suits from Ace, King and three or more low. 

If Jack is turned at your right lead Queen from Ace, 
Queen, Ten, &c. 

If Ten is turned at your right lead Queen from Queen, 
Jack, Nine, &c., or lead Jack from King, Jack, Nine, &c. 

If Nine is turned at your right lead Jack from Jack, 
Ten, Eight, &c. 

If King or Queen is turned at your left lead Jack from 
Jack, Ten, Nine, &c. 

If Jack is turned at your left lead low from Ace, King 
and two or three low. 



SECOND HAND PLAY. 



Second hand usually plays low, on a low card led, unless 
holding a combination of high cards from which as elder 
hand he would lead, as from suits headed by Ace, King 
and Queen; Ace and King; Ace, Queen, and Jack; King, 
Queen and Jack ; King and Queen; King, Jack and Ten 
or Queen, Jack and Ten when one of the high cards should 
be played second hand. 

With Ace and Queen second hand usually plays 
Queen, or Ten from Ace, Queen and Ten if strong in 
trumps. 

From a three-card suit, the two higher cards being in 
sequence as Queen, Jack and one low; Jack, Ten and one 
low, or Ten, Nine and one low; second hand plays the 
lower of the sequence which he would not do with more 
than three of the suit. Play low from these in the second 
round unless higher cards have been forced out. 

With a fourchette second hand covers a high card 
led as from King, Jack and Nine he plays King on 
Queen, or Jack on Ten. 

With two higher honors in sequence cover an honor 
led but with any single honor, except Ace, pass an honor 
led. 



i8 



AMERICAN WHIST. 



With Ace and Queen do not cover Jack with Queen. 

When strong- in trumps second hand with Ace, Jack 
and others of a plain suit may pass, Xing or Queen led 
out to hold tenace over right hand opponent. 

In plain suits second hand plays low from one honor 
and one small card except from King and Nine on Eight 
led, or King and one low on Nine or Eight led, or from 
Queen and one low on Ten, Nine or Eight led. 

If partner has led or signaled for trumps it is right to 
play the higher card from one honor and one low card to 
try to get the lead. 

In trumps second hand often plays high from King or 
Queen and one low. 

Pass the first round, except on Ace led, if you cannot 
follow suit. 

If weak in trumps, or very strong in trumps, trump 
the second round. 

In plain suits win the second round if you have the 
master card, but not in trumps. 

Many tricks are lost by second hand not calculating 
the possible combination from which an original lead of 
fourth best is made. 

Second hand should trump high if third hand also 
trumps and fourth hand can follow suit. 

The good player shows his skill as second hand. 



INFERENCES OF SECOND HAND PLAY IN 
THE FIRST ROUND OF A SUIT. 

If he plays low he has none lower unless he has played, 
unnecessarily, a higher card before a lower one in the next 
round of the suit, to signal for trumps. 

His first discard is from his weakest suit if opponents 
have not led or called for trumps. 

If he covers Queen, Jack or Ten with any honor except 
Ace he has another honor. 



AMERICAN WHIST. 



^9 



If he plays a high card he has the next higher, or a 
combination of high cards, or no more. 

If he plays low he has not Ace and King ; or King and 
Queen ; or King, Jack, Ten ; or Queen, Jack, Ten; or Jack, 
Ten, Nine ; or Ten, Nine. He may have Ace and Queen ; 
or King and Jack or only one honor. If he plays Ace he 
has not King. 

If he plays King he has Ace, or only one small card, or 
no more. 

If he plays Queen he has Ace and King; or Ace and 
Ten ; or Ace ; or King or no more. 

If he plays Jack he has Queen and Ace ; or Queen and 
King; or Queen and one small or no more. 

If he plays Ten he has Ace and Queen ; or King, 
Queen, Jack; or King, Jack; or Queen, Jack or Jack X, 
or no more. 

If he plays Nine he has King, Jack, Ten ; or Queen, 
Jack, Ten ; or Jack, Ten ; or Ten X or no more. 



THIRD HAND PLAY. 



Third hand usually plays low on an honor led, except 
to unblock. 

With Ace and Queen, or Ace and Queen, Jack se- 
quence, finesse ; otherwise play the highest honor not in 
sequence on a low card led. 

Do not finesse if only one trick is required to win the 
game. 

Play the lowest of a head sequence unless you want 
partner to lead trumps through your right hand opponent, 
who has an honor turned which you command with higher 
trumps, or a tenace. 

On partner's lead of Ace, Queen or Jack indicating 
five of a suit get out of his way ; if you have four of 
his suit play the third card in the first round and a higher 



20 



AMERICAN WHIST. 



card in the second round, even from Queen, Jack, Ten 
and one low or King, Queen, Jack and one low, to un- 
block and retain the low card to assist in bringing in his 
suit. 

On partner's lead of Ace then Queen, or Ace then 
Jack, or Ace then Ten, play King in the second round if 
you have less than five of his suit. 

With Ace, King and one low play King on Queen led 
and return Ace. 

With Ace and King play King on Jack led. 

With Ace and Queen and not more than one low, play 
Ace on Ten led and return Queen. 

With Ace, Jack and one low play Ace on Ten led. 

With Ace and Queen play Ace on Jack led as King is 
not held by partner. 

With Ace and Jack only, play Ace on King or Queen 
led and return Jack. 

With Ace and three low pass Ten led. 

With Ace and two low pass Queen or Jack led. 

With Ace and only one low, play Ace on Jack led and 
return low. 

With King and Queen play Queen on Nine led and 
return King. 

With King and Jack play King on Nine led and return 
Jack. 

With King and no other honor cover Jack or Ten 

led. 

With Queen and more than one low pass Ten or Nine 

led. 

Never trump partner's original lead of King, Queen or 
Jack. 

In trumps pass partner's lead of Queen, Jack or Ten. 

With less than four trumps, or more than five, trump 
a doubtful trick. 

With an established suit and four or five trumps pass 
a doubtful trick, unless partner forces intentionally ; in 
passing a doubtful trick partner should infer that you 
want trumps led. 



AMERICAN WHIST. 



21 



If partner opens a suit as with Eight from Ace, 
Jack, Nine, Eight and you have equal strength in the 
suit King, Queen, Ten X unblock unless your hand is 
very strong. 



INFERENCES FROM THIRD HAND PLAY. 



That third hand plays the highest single honor except 
from Ace, Queen or Ace and Queen, Jack sequence. 

If he plays Ace he has not King or Queen, for w^ith 
Ace and King he v^ould play King first, and with Ace, 
Queen, Jack he w^ould play Jack, or with Ace and Queen 
he would finesse Queen. 

If he plays King he has not Queen. 

If he plays Queen he has Ace or King, or both, or no 
higher card. 

If he plays Jack he has Ace and Queen, or King and 
Queen, or Queen, or no higher card. 

If he piays Ten he has a sequence of which Ten is the 
lowest, or no higher card. 

If third hand does not return partner's trump lead he 
has no trumps. 

If third hand does not return Ace of partner's suit he 
does not have it. 

If third hand returns a low card of partner's suit he 
has no more or at least two more. 

If he wins with Jack and returns Queen, or wins with 
Queen and returns King, or wins with King and returns 
Jack, he has no more or only one more. 

If third hand wins cheaply fourth hand has no higher 
card. 

That first discard on a plain suit led by partner or 
opponent is from his weakest suit, if opponents have not 
led trumps or called for them. 



22 



AMERICAN WHIST. 



RETURNING PARTNER'S LEADS. 



If partner leads Ace return King- or Queen without 
regard to number of suit in your hand. 

If you have Ace, or the master card of partner's suit, 
or only one left and wish to trump the suit, return it ^t 
once ; otherwise with a very strong suit lead it before 
returning partner's suit. 

Return partner's trump lead at first opportunity and 
with Ace if you have it, or the highest of three honors from 
any number of trumps, otherwise the highest of three or 
less or the lowest of four or more. 

As soon as you know that partner's suit is established 
lead trumps if you have four or more and a re-entry card 
in a plain suit. 

Be cautious about returning partner's suit if you have 
won the first trick cheaply, as your right hand opponent 
must be strong in it, your left hand opponent having no 
high card of the suit and your partner not having a com- 
bination of high cards, as a lead of a low card indicates. 

Do not lead the suit first discarded by partner before 
opponents have led or called for trumps. 



RETURNING OPPONENTS' LEADS. 



Never lead up to a strong hand unless you have entire 
command of it, or partner has renounced the suit and is 
weak in trumps and is ready for a force. 

Hold command of opponents' suits as long as possible ; 
win when necessary, but do not return the suit. 

Lead up to a weak hand in preference to leading 
through a strong one. 

If trumps have not been led by you, or called for by 
your partner, do not lead the suit first discarded by left 
hand opponent, or the suit opened by right hand opponent 
or which he has refrained discarding from. 



AMERICAN WHIST. 



23 



PLAY OF FOURTH HAND. 



Fourth hand wins the trick, if against him, with the 
lowest card that will take the trick, except that he may 
take his partner's trick to unblock or to lead up to a weak 
hand; or may refuse to take a trick if thereby he can save 
his only card of re-entry ; or may refuse to trump or over- 
trump, if he has four good trumps and two good plain 
suits and wants trumps led. 

If fourth hand wins a trick cheaply there are no high 
cards of that suit in third hand. 

If strong in all plain suits, and trumps are led by 
adversary, and you desire trumps out, hold up command- 
ing trumps to bring in your strong suits. 

Late in the hand throw the lead to your left when you 
hold a tenace, or guarded second, which you want led up 
to you. 

On eleventh round with Ace and Jack, do not over- 
trump your right hand opponent's Queen if he has King 
left. 

When fourth hand cannot win a trick, which is against 
him, he should play the lowest card of the suit unless he 
wants to signal for trumps. 



INFERENCES FROM PLAY OF FOURTH 
HAND. 

If fourth hand plays a card next lower than oppo- 
nent's highest card played on a low card led, he has no 
more of the suit or is signaling for trumps. With a higher 
card he would win ; without a higher card he would play 
lowest from two or more. 

The fourth hand winning has not the next lower card 
unless he is echoing to partner's call for trumps. 

If he plays Ace he has no higher card than opponent's 
highest card. 



24 



AMERICAN WHIST. 



If he trumps with Ace he has no more trumps. 
If he trumps with King he has no other trump except 
Ace. 

If he refuses to trump he has no trumps or wants 
trumps led. 

If he does not overtrump he has no trumps, or no 
trump high enough to win, or wants trumps led. 



DISCARDING. 



Discard with as much care as you take in leading. 

Discard first from weakest suit on partner's lead, or on 
opponents' lead if they have not led or called for trumps ; 
on opponents' lead or call for trumps discard first from 
your best protected suit, keeping short suits to obstruct 
their long suits. 

Do not discard a singleton early in hand or until you 
have ascertained partner's strong suit. 

Do not unguard an honor if it can be avoided. 

With four of a suit keep Ten guarded. 

A discard of an Eight, or a higher card, is a direct 
signal for trumps. 

A call for trumps can be made by discarding a higher 
before a lower card of the same suit. 

After a discard from one suit a subsequent discard 
from another suit has no significance. 

With full command of a suit the highest card should 
be discarded first to inform partner. 

A discard of a King indicates no more of the suit. 

When forced to discard from Ace and King only, 
discard Ace. 

With one honor, lower than Ace, and one low card 
of each suit unguard the lowest honor first without a 
special reason to keep that suit. 

With Ace and one low, and King or Queen and one 
low of another suit, unguard Ace first. 

Discard a card which obstructs partner's suit. 



AMERICAN WHIST. 



25 



EXPLANATION OF PLAYS INDICATED BY 
THIS FORM. 



Dots outside refer to plain suits ; dots inside to 
trumps. 





Q 9 




10 8 




K 




J 




9 




X 



8 



'8 *• A io 



The upper left corner indicates the lead ; the upper 
right corner second hand ; the lower right corner third 
hand and the lower left corner fourth hand. 

One dot at either corner indicates the usual play of 
that card in the first round and two dots the usual play in 
the second round. Where more than one card has two 
dots in the same position the second lead, or play, depends 
upon the length of the suit, or which high cards are forced 
out in the first round. 

The following leads and plays are indicated on the 
above miniature cards representing King, Jack, Nine and 
a small card : 

The small card should be led first either in plain suits 
or in trumps ; the lead in plain suits being indicated by 
one dot outside upper left corner, and the lead in trumps 
by one dot inside upper left corner. 

In the second round Nine should be led if neither Ace 
nor Queen was forced out in the first round ; if Ace and 
not Queen, was forced out in the first round, King should 
be led in the second round ; but if Queen, not Ace, was 
forced out in the first round Jack should be led in the 
second round. 

A player as second hand holding the above combina- 
tion should play King on Queen led, or Jack on Ten led, 



26 



AMERICAN WHIST. 



or Nine on Eight led ; on any other lead the lowest card 
shoul/i be played. These plays are indicated by a dot and 
a figure, or a dot and a letter, or a dot only at upper right 
corner. 

Third hand play is indicated by dots, or a dot and 
letter, or a dot and figure at lower right corner. 

On partner's lead of Eight, fourth best from Ace, 
Queen, Ten and Eight, play the lowest card if you have a 
strong hand, but with a weak hand play King on Eight 
led, and return Jack to leave partner in command of the 
suit. On partner's lead of Ten from Ace, Queen and 
Ten, play the lowest card, as your suit is longer than his 
and Ten must win if not trumped. On partner's original 
lead of Ace, indicating five at least of his suit, play Nine 
in the first round to begin to unblock partner's suit and 
play Jack and King in subsequent rounds before the low 
card. 

On any original lead by partner, except Ace, Ten or 
Eight, play King in the first round and Jack in the second 
round if it will cover opponent's card or partner has not 
led a card of equal value. 

The play of fourth hand is very simple : he wins with 
the lowest card that will take the trick, if against him ; or 
if already won by partner or he cannot cover opponents' 
cards, he plays his lowest card unles he wishes to signal 
for trumps. 

Characters Used : — One dot for first round, two 
dots for second round, A for Ace, K for King, Q for 
Queen, J for Jack, H for Honor, W if weak in trumps, St 
if strong in trumps, X for any card lower than Nine. 



27 



o- 

^ I I II 

I M' H 'B' 

1 ,S Q H ...H 

J I I I I I i. 

2 'h; :s m e 
^..B H H H :s 

...H ...H :h: :h 

...H ...H ..B .B ...H 



28 




^ H H B H B 

.EJ .H .B" .:a .:a .:s 

B' H" B '.■[<]■■ H 'B" 



^ H' H .H 

D I i II 

I H'" H H H 
r-[r] H-^'-Q- H 

i H H H ;b" B" 

1 H "B" B B B 

^ I I 1 I I I 

o B" H "B" B^ H H 

2 H H B" ^B' ^B H 

^"B H .B :b'";b ;b 

.B ;b H H M "B" 

'b'" b b b b 



'H' "'E .E] ..H .B 
I "!3 .[^^''' '..H ."B'^^B" 
M i I I I I 

i B B "B" H B 
< H H H H B H 
is S "B E S 

1 ..B :b' :b' :b' ;b' :b' 

^ I I I I I I 

I H B'^ B B" B B 
1'0 B B B B B 
^ H ^B" H H ^B"' H 
H H °B H B "B 
°B' ^:B ''B' 'B' H "B" 



34 

..H B E B B B 

or, , 00 0'« ^ O". • a .00 . 

? .H JZl m ,H H H 
^ I I I I i I 

i B'* :h' b" "b b' b 

1 B 'B" H "B" 
i'H B B 'B 'B 'B 
IB' 'B 'B' 'B 'B"B" 

^ I I I I I I 

I B'" .H B'^ B'" .B B 

2 H B H B B 
^ H H B "g]' H 

B B B B 'B 
B" "B' ''B' B 'B" "'B 







1 1 




'r^n 'rz~'\ 
ULJ [JlJ 












D 

<n 1 




1 




1 1 


«) ' 

^ *. -t.<=' 






! 

B 


<.cy •» o, 

P^^ 1 F3~l 


< .ku 

O CO*. ^ 

2 H 






M 
B" 


HI "H 


u. 


i 




Q 




^ 1 

< 


*'f — 1 




.B 

'"F — 1 


1 1 


< 


1 1 


.LlJ 

1 1 

1-°' 1 




i — 1 1 — 1 


""I — 1 


I 1 


1 1 

en 


i 71*' 


l^.nO . 00. , 

dj H 


H 












.13 .0' .'B B" B ;h 

.H" .H .B B' 

^ I I I I I I 

i B B" B B B B' 

I ;b'^ b' 'B' ;b"^ b 

i H H H" B H B 

i B B B B" B H 

li. * * 

^ I I I I I I 

1 B'" ;B B B '0 B' 

2 B B" B "B B 'B^ 
^ H B H' H H H 

H H B' H H B 

H H H [¥]• [I]- H 



AMERICAN WHIST. 



AMERICAN WHIST LEADS. 



From Suit 


Plain 


m 

irnil) 




mm 




arfls in Snit. 




Hea 


M liy 


Suit. 


Suit. 








5 


6 




A K Q J 


Lead 


l^ead 






TT T 


J A 


J K 


T d 


A K Q 










K O 


? d 


Q K 




A K J 








K A 


K A 


A K 


A K 


A K 


A K 






A K 


Jtv /V 


K A 


A K 


A K 


A K 


A K 




t4 




X A 


4:th A 


4th K 


4ih K 


A K 


A Q 


) J 10 


u 


u 






A 10 


A J 


A J 


A J 


A C 


) J 


n 


n 




A O 


A n 


A J 


A J 


A J 


A Q 


) 10 


(( 






10 A 


4ih A 


A 4th 


A 4th 


A 4th 


A Q 


) 10 




4, 




10 A 


4th A 


4th A 


4th A 


A 4ih 


A J 


10 


n 






10 A 


4th A 


A 4tll 


A 4th 


A 4ih 


A J 


10 








10 A 


4th A 


4th A 


4th A 


A 4th 


A :x 




(( 




A X 


X A 


4th A 


A 4th 


A 4th 


A 4th 


A X 




(( 


X A 


A. A 


4th A 


4th A 


4th A 


A 4th 


K Q 


J 10 


(4 








K 10 


J K 


J Q 


J Q 


K Q 


J 


^^ 








K J 


J K 


J Q 


J P 


K Q 


10 




44 




IT O 


K (1) 


Q(i) 


Q (1) 


P (1) 
P fl) 


K g 










K 8 


K (1] 




Q (1) 


K C 






J, 




K O 


4th(2) 


4th ^2) 


4th (2) Q 4th 


K T 


10 




44 


iU IV 


10 (3) 10 (3) 


10 (3) 10 (3) 


K J 








K J 


X K 


4th K 4th K 


4th K 4th K 


K X 








X K 


4th K 


4th K 


4th K 4th K 


Q J 


10 9 










Q 9 


Q 10 


Q 10 


P 10 


g J 10 










Q J 


Q 10 


P 10 


P 10 


y J 




(i 




P J 




4th X 


4th X 


4th 


4th 


Q X 






Q 


X[] 


4th X 


4th X 


4th 


4th 


J 10 9 8 






8 J 


8 J 


8 10 


8 9 


J 10 9 8 








J 8 


J 9 


J 9 


J 9 


J 10 9 1 " 






J 10 


4th J 


4th 10 


4th 9 


4th 9 


J 10 9 ; 






J 10 


J 10 


J 9 


J 9 


J 9 


J ^ 






J 


J 


4th X 


4th X 


4th 


4th 


30 X " 




10 


10 


4th X 


4th X 


4th 


4th 



(1) If first lead wins, follow with lowest. (2) If partner 
has no high trumps, follow with highest. (3) If Ten wins, 
follow with lowest. If Ace falls, and not Queen, follow 
with King. If Queen falls, follow with King from four or 
with Jack from five or more. 



40 



AMERICAN WHIST. 



VOCABULARY OF WHIST TERMS. 



Ace. — The highest card of each suit; but the lowest in 
cutting. 

Ace Leads. — From Ace, King and three or more without 
Queen. 

" From Ace and four or more without King. 

" From Ace, Queen and Jack with or without 

lower cards. 
" From Ace and any one other card. 

Adversary's Suit. — The suit opened by each opponent. 
American Leads. — A system of original leads showing a 
certain number of the suit led as Ace indicating five 
or more. King not more than four, Queen five, Jack 
five, Ten four or more. Nine not more than four and a 
low card the fourth best. 

The second lead from the same suit giving fuller 
information as to number and value of cards. 
Best Suit. — The suit that is likely to take the most tricks. 
Best Suit to Lead. — Trumps if you have more than five, 
or only five and one good plain suit, or lour trumps 
and two good plain suits ; otherwise the longest and 
strongest plain suit. 
Bring in.— To make the cards of an established suit after 

trumps are out. 
Call. — See signal for trumps. 

Called Cards. — Any exposed card, except the trump 
card properly turned by the dealer, either by accident 
or leading or playing out of turn, may be called by 
either opponent and the play of ii enforced as he dic- 
tates provided it does not cause the player to revoke. 

Changing Suits. — To stop leading one suit and leading 
another. 

Command.— To have the winning cards of a suit. 
Conventional Plays. — Certain recognized methods of 
playing by which information is afforded to your 



AMERICAN WHIST. 



41 



partner as to the state of your hand, more especially 
as to its numerical strength, by leading or in playing 
as second, third or fourth hand. 
Coup. — A brilliant play not directed by a special 
rule. 

Cross Ruff.— The alternate trumping of different suits by 
partners as led by one to the other. 

Cutting. — The lifting of four or more cards from one 
pack by each player to decide who shall be partners 
and who shall be entitled to the deal ; the two highest 
play together against the two lowest. The lowest 
card indicates the dealer. The player to the right of 
the dealer cuts again for the trump which cannot be 
seen until turned by the dealer. 

In cutting if a player exposes more than one card 
he must cut again. 

Dead Suit. — One that cannot win a trick as 5, 4, 3. 

Deal. — To distribute the pack of cards one by one to each 
of the four players, consecutively, beginning at the 
left till he comes to the last card which he turns up, 
being the trump, and leaves on the table until the 
first trick is turned. 

Dealer. — The player who cuts the lowest card has the 
first deal ; subsequently each player to the left be- 
comes the dealer. 

Discard. — The card of another suit played to the one led 
when a player cannot follow suit or does not trump. 
Usually the first discard is from a weak suit if trumps 
have not been led or called for by opponents. 

Deschapelle's Coup. — The lead of a high card to be lost 
to an adversary that the play may be forced up to the 
leader's partner. 

Doubtful Trick. — A round of a suit of which your 
partner may not have the winning card. 

Echo. — A reply made to a partner's call for trumps that 
you have four or more trumps ; it is made by playing 
a higher card before a lower one either in trumps or 
in a plain suit. 



42 



AMERICAN WHIST. 



Eldest Hand. — The player at the left of the dealer who 
leads first ; after the first lead whoever wins a trick 
becomes the eldest hand. 

Establish. — A suit is said to be established when a player 
has exhausted all the best cards in it, which were 
against him, and he can take every card of that suit, 
unplayed, no matter by whom led. 

Exposed Card. — Any card dropped on or in any way ex- 
posed on or above the table ; two cards played at once 
are exposed cards. 

Faced Card. — A card improperly exposed in dealing, for 
which the deal is lost. 

False Card.— A card played contrary to conventional rule. 

Finessing. — An attempt to win with a lower card while 
having a higher card, not in sequence with it, more 
certain of winning ; or passing a card led by partner 
when holding a card higher than the one next above 
the card led. 

First Hand. — The player who leads — the eldest hand. 

Follow. — The succeeding play from a suit previously led 
by the same player. 

Force. — A winning card played that will compel an ad- 
versary to trump, or a losing card played purposely 
for partner to trump. 

Forced Leads. — Leads from weak suits of two or three 
cards when no long or strong suit is held, or when you 
cannot lead partner's suit. 

FouRCHETTE. — Two cards of a suit, one of which is next 
in value above, and the other next in value below the 
card led as Jack and Nine, when Ten is led by 
opponent. 

Fourth Best. — A system of playing which supersedes 
the penultimate. An original lead of fourth best is 
made when no combination is held from which a high 
card is led. The fourth best is also led in the second 
round of a suit when a high card led cannot be 
followed by another high card. 

Fourth Hand. — The last player to a round. 



AMERICAN WHIST. 



43 



Game. — Seven points when tricks only are scored. Ten 

points when tricks and honors are both scored. 
Grand Coup. — The throwing- away of a superfluous 

trump ; or the talcing of partner's trick by trumping- 

to throw the lead back to him ; or undertrumping a 

trick to throw the lead. 
Guarded. — A high card is guarded when smaller cards 

are held which can be played upon cards led higher 

than the one guarded. 
Hand. — The thirteen cards held by each of the four 

players, fifty-two cards in all. 
High Cards. — Ace to Nine inclusive. 

Honors. — Ace, King, Queen and Jack of trumps. Honors 
score after tricks. 

Inferences. — Assumption that leads or plays are accord- 
ing to general rules which direct certain plays from 
particular combinations of cards of one suit. 

Jack Leads — From five or more headed by the quart se- 
quence Ace, King, Queen, Jack, or the tierce sequence 
King, Queen, Jack. 

Jack is also led from any two orthree headed by Jack. 

King Leads — From any four headed by Ace and King, or 
by King and Queen. 

From three when accompanied by either Ace or 
Queen, or both. 

From King and any one lower card. 

Lead. — The first card of a hand played by the eldest 
hand; or the card led subsequently by any player after 
winning a trick. 

Leader.— See Eldest Hand. 

Leading Through. — Is the lead of a suit in which your 

left hand opponent is strong. 
Leading Up To. — Is the lead of a suit in which your right 

hand opponent is weak. 
Long Cards. — The cards of a suit in a hand after all the 

other cards of the suit have been played. 
Long Suit. — One containing four or more cards. A long 

suit is not always a strong one except in number. 



44 



AMERICAN WHIST. 



Long Trump. — The only unplayed trump. 
Losing Card. — One not likely to take a trick. 
Love, — No score. 

Low Cards. — Eight to deuce, inclusive. 
Loose Card. — One of no value. 
Make. — Means to win a trick. 

Master Card. — The best unplayed card of a suit at any 
part of the hand. Until played Ace is the master 
card. If Ace, King- and Queen have been played Jack 
becomes the master card of those unplayed. 

The master card was formerly called the King 
Card which is a misleading term. 

Middle Card. — The eight. 

Misdeal. — An incorrect distribution of the cards or the 
exposure of a card in dealing, either of which forfeits 
the deal to the next player on the left. 

New Deal. — If the pack is imperfect the dealer does not 
lose, but he does if any card is exposed except the 
trump card, or if a wrong number of cards is given to 
any player, or if the trump card is not turned before 
placing it on the table. 

Nine Leads — From Ace, Queen, Ten, Nine and Ace, Jack, 
Ten, Nine, or Nine and any one or two lower. 

Original or Opening Lead. — The suit first led by each 
player. His purpose is inferred not only by the suit 
led but also by the value of the card first led. 

Opponent. — Either of two players as opposed to the other 
two players. 

Partner's Suit.— The first suit led by him. 

Pass. — Declining to play a high card by second, third or 
fourth hand. 

Penultimate, — The lowest but one of a suit. A system 
of leading superseded by the better play of fourth 
best. 

Placing the Lead. — Playing a card that will compel 
another player to take the trick to try to force a lead 
that will be more advantageous to yourself or partner. 

Plain Suits. — The three suits not trumps in every hand. 



AMERICAN WHIST. 



45 



Point. — Each trick in excess of six counts one point. 
Queen Leads — From Ace, King-, Queen and two or more 
lower than Jack. 
*' From King-, Queen and three or more 

lower than Jack. 
" From Queen, Jack and Ten with or with- 

out small cards. 
" From Queen, Jack X or Queen X. 

Re-entry. — A card of re-entry is one that by winning a 

trick will bring you the lead. 
Refusing a Force. — Declining to trump a suit led when 
not having one of the suit. The player refusing a 
force has no trumps, wants trumps led or is trying to 
place the lead. 

Renounce. — To play a card of another suit to the one led 

indicating inability to follow suit. 
Returning Leads. — Leading back the suits led ; it has 

particular reference to partner's suits. 
Revoke. — The play of a card of another suit while holding 

a card of the suit led ; the penalty is two points, and 

takes precedence of all other scores. 
Round, — A card played by each plaj^er constitutes a round 

or trick. 

Rubber. — Two games won out of three. 

Ruffing. — Another term for trumping a suit. 

Scoring. — The points gained by tricks in excess of six, or 

by excess of honors. The penalty for a revoke counts 

first, then tricks and honors last. 
Second Hand. -The player to the left of the one who leads. 
See-Sa-w. — See cross ruff. 

Sequence. — Two or more of one suit in consecutive order. 
" Double. — Two sequences of one suit as A. K. 

J. lO. 

" Tierce. — One of three cards. 
" TiERcsMAjoR.-The three highest cards of a suit. 
" Quart. — A sequence of four cards. 
" Quart Major. — A sequence of the four highest 
cards. 



46 



AMERICAN WHIST. 



Sequence, Quint. — A sequence of five cards. 

" Head. — A sequence without a card above it. 
" Intermediate. — A sequence with a card above 

and one below it. 
" Subordinate. — A sequence of small cards. 
Short Suit. — A suit of three cards or less which is not 

usually led until longer suits have been opened. 
Shuffle. — To change the position of the cards in the pack 

by intermingling before they are dealt. 
Signal for Trumps. — A system of asking partner to lead 
trumps by playing unnecessarily a higher card of a 
suit before a lower one of the same suit ; or by refus- 
ing to trump a certain winning card, or to overtrump 
an opponent. 

Singleton. — One card only of a suit dealt to a player. 

It is seldom led first or discarded first. 
Small Cards. — From eight to deuce inclusive. 
Strategy. — Artifice to deceive an opponent. 
Strength — Consists of two elements, high cards and 

more than the average number, four, of a suit. 
Strengthening Play. — The use of high cards to assist 

partner in exhausting opponent's strength in a suit to 

leave partner in command of it. 
Strong Suit. — A suit of four or more cards of more than 

average value. 

Suit. — Each series of cards. Hearts, Diamonds, Spades 
and Clubs. 

Taking a Force. — Trumping either a winning card led 
by opponent or a losing card led by partner. 

Tenace. — The best and third best cards in one hand 
unplayed of a suit as Ace and Queen. When Ace and 
Queen have been played the King and Ten are the 
best and third best. 

Tenace Double. — Ace, Queen and Ten or King, Jack 
and Nine, or Queen, Ten and Eight, &c. 

Tenace Major. — Best and third best cards in play. 

Tenace Minor. — Second and fourth best cards in 
play. 



AMERICAN WHIST. 



47 



Ten Leads. — From King-, Jack and Ten with or without 
small cards, and from Ten X X and Ten X. 

Third Hand. — The partner of the one who leads plays 
third. 

Thirteenth Card. — The only unplayed card of a suit. 

Throwing the Lead. — See Placing- the Lead. 

Tierce. — A sequence of three cards. 

Tierce Major. — A sequence of the three highest cards. 

Trick. — A trick consists of four cards, the one led and one 
card played by each of the other players. 

Trump. — The card and suit turned by the dealer. 

Unblocking. — Getting rid of high cards of partner's suit 
when you have less cards of the suit than your 
partner. Unblocking does not apply to trumps. 

Unguarding, — Discarding small cards and holding an 
honor lower than the master card. 

Underplay. — Playing a low card and retaining a higher 
one of same suit which might win, or winning with a 
high card while holding the next best card. 

Uses of Trumps. — To exhaust opponents, to trump their 
winning cards, to stop a cross ruff, and as cards of re- 
entry to bring in a suit. 

Weakness, — The absence of high cards and less than the 
average number, four, of a suit. 

Weak Suit. — One containing less than the average num- 
ber of high cards ; a suit of low cards which is not 
led while holding a stronger suit unless you know 
that your partner is strong in the suit. 

Whist Memory. — Ability to recollect cards that have 
been played by observing each card when played. 

Winning Cards — The highest cards unplayed of a suit. 



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